Sludge bed cleaning apparatus



May 24, 19.32. M. B. TARK ET AL 1,860,300

SLUDGE BED CLEANING APPARATUS original Filed Dec. 15, 1928 1o` sheets-sheet 1 4May 24, 1932.

M. B. TARK ET AL SLUDGE BED CLEANING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 13, 1928 lQSheets-Sheet 2 May 24, 1932- M. B. TARK r-:T Al. 1,860,300

SLUDGE BED CLEANING' APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. l5, 1928 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 24, 1932. M. B, TARK ET AL 1,866,300

/r SLUDGE BED' CLEANING APPARATUS original Filed Deb. 15, 1928 10 Sheets-sheet 4 May 24, 3932.

Original Filed Dec. l5, 1928 lO Sheets-Sheet 5 May 24, 1932-A Y M, B. TARK ET AL vj860-,300

SLUDG'E BED CLEANING APPARATUS -Qpignal Filed Dec. 13, 1928 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 My .24, 17932;; M. B., TARK ET AL 1,860,300 l SLIJQQE. BED GLEANING APPARATUS 10 Sheets-SheetA 8v M. B. TARK ET AL SLUDGE BED CLEANING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. l5, 1928 may 24, 1932.

ad@ .l

May 24, 1932.

M. B. TARK ET AL SLUDGE BED CLEANI'NG APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 13, 1928 10 Sheets-Sheet .9

jms.;

` May 24, 1932.

M. B. TARK ET A1. 1,860,300

SLUDGE BEDGLEANING APPARATUS original Filed Dec. 15, 1928 1o sheets-sheet 10 Patented May 24, 1932' ivIARcus B. TARE AND RoLAND L. CLEVELAND, or PHILADELPHIA, rnNNsYLvANiA,

shown in Fig. 1;

AssieNons ro LINK-Barr coiiIrANY, ILLINOIS or'Y cIIIcAeo, ILL'INois, A CORPORATION or sLUDG-n BED CLEANING ArrAaATus Application filed December 13, 1928, Serial No.325v,759. Renewed. January 29, 1932.

This invention relates to improvements in sewage disposal systems and apparatus, and

rially disturbing the beds themselves and for applying fresh sand 'to the beds when required and for maintaining the beds in a proper` level condition for'further operation.

To this general end, the invention contemy plates the provision of novel mechanisniand apparatus adapted to travel over the beds and to skim from the surfaces thereof the accumulated sludge Without materially disturbing the bed or removing anysubstantial portion of the sand, and to deposit the sludge in suitable vehicles or in railroad cars adapt'- ed to travel adjacent and parallel to the said sludge-collecting apparatus, said mechanism and apparatus also preferably including means for taking up sand from a suitable source and for spreading and leveling the sand on the beds to compensate any losses in the sludge-removing operation.

The invention further residesin various novel mechanical details and structural features hereinafter set forth andillustrated in the attached drawings, lin which:

V Figure 1 is a front elevation of apparatus made in accordance with our invention illustrating also a preferred form of sludge bed construction to which the lmechanism is particularly Well adapted; y

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the mechanism is an enlarged elevational vievv of one end of the apparatus shown iiiV Fig. 1 g' Fi from that end shown in Fig. 3 ;.4 A

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevational view of g. 4C is an endelevation of theapparatus I an intermediate ortion of the a aratus' 7 Figs. (3 and are fragmentary sectional in Fig. l.;

VWhile inthe spaces 3 intermediate the bed sec- Fig. 9a` isa sectional vieu7 on the line-9-9,

Fig; 9; f

Fig. 10 is an elevational view illustrating details of the elevator mechanism which is mounted at one end of the apparatus shown rig. ii sa Section on' the mit `ii-- ii, Fig.

View of the sanddistributing deyice;

Fig. l13 isV arplan view of lthat part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 12; f 'f Fig. 14C is an end elevation of those portions of the apparatus shown in Figs. 12 and Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is f a more or less diagrammatic PATENT :OFFICE I Fig. 12 is affragmentary front elevational y view illustratinga modification Within the j l scope of the/invention; 4

Fig. 17 is 'anv end'elevational `vievv-illus trating a further modilication, and i Figs. 18 and 19 are respectively plan and front elevational vviews showing" the same modification. .Y .A

Referring to Fig. -1'of the drawings7 a sand bed made in' accordance vWith the present invention consists of one or more sections 1 bounded by loW Walls 2, each sectionbeing or spaces 3.' f Thevvalls 2 constitute supports,

in the present instance, for rails 4 upon which is mounted and adapted to travel sludge-collecting mechanism, as hereinafter described,

tions'are established rails 5 of suitable gage accommodating railway cars 6, which as here- Vinafter set forth are adapted to receive the sludge collected andz removed from the beds and Which may also be used'to carry in sand f' which is distributedover the surfaces ofthe sludge beds, also as hereinafter set forth.

Preferablyfthe beds are so constructed that i the sludge-collecting mechanism supported i suitable cross sectional form whichwith the' employed forv'operating'fthe various, otherv 'ing mechanism comprises a body` or main frame?, which as shown in Figs. i and 10 is supported at eachend by a pair of wheels 8,

whichtravel uponfthe rails 4:. The body 7 carries a superstructure 9 which inthe pres` ent instance is fabricated of steel bars'of base '7 supports the various working parts of the mechanism. At one` end of the framel Tris mounted a motor generator set' 11 which furnishesthefelectricalfpower by means of which the frame and superstructure 'and associated parts are caused to travel on the rails 4, and energy from this'source is also working parts of the apparatus asv a whole.

' In the present instance, reference being had .to Figs. 3 and 4,"we provide an electric motor* 12'which through suitable reduction gearing enclosed within a'housing 13 is connected with ashaft li'which carries at'one end a pinion 15v meshing with a gear 16 mounted uponpo'r journaled inthe frame 7, the gear 16 being carried by a shaft which also carries a pinion 17 meshing with a gearlS ,upon

, the axle ofone.of the Wheels 8, and the shaft 14: also carries a gear 19 which 'throughan intervening train of gears 21 journaled on Vthe frame is connected with a gear 22 onthe axle of theiother of the-wheels. at that side of the4 frainei The motor 12, therefore;constitutes the driving motor for` theftraveling bridge consisting of the frame 7 `and superstructure 9; lNhile in the present instance we have shown butl one of theseV driving motors, it is apparent that a similark motoryand similar driving gearwmay be applied to the opposite 4end also ofthe machine. Y l. ,Y f Suspended from the bridge andextending longitudinally thereof and transversely lbevtween the walls 2,2 is aiforwardly curved plate' 25, 'this plate having at its forward and lower end teeth 26 whichin operation are.

adaptedto projectunder the layer of sludge' 'i and at the level ofthe top 0f the sand bed.

- without materially disturbing the latter and Asthe bridgetravels forwardly on i'tsrails, the sludge iscaused tokslide upwardly on the fingers 26 and intothe curve ofthe plate 25, f

and is thus in effect skimmed fromY the bed without removing any substantial Vportion of the sand of which the bedsrare` formed. It will be apparent that the sandgwill pass freely between the teeth' and tends to stay on the bed. whereas the" rheavier and more compact sludge Vwill slide up the teeth onto'it'he skim-I 5 I'In the present mer plate,Vv Y

instance, the plate 25 consists of three longitudinally .aligned sections each of which is supported from the bridge by means of four sets of suspension rods, each set consisting as shown in Fig. 9 of a forwardA single bar 27 pivot-ally secured to the frame at 28, anda rear double bar 29pivotally secured'at; opposite sides of a nut 31 on aV screw 32, this screw being'journaledin the frame `and having at one end arworm wheel 33 which ymeshes with a worm 34; ksecured through a clutch, see Fig. 7',.to a shaft 35 extending longitudinally of the frame. As shown in Fig. 9, each of these sets of rods 27-29 support at their juncture'a spiderBGA consisting offtwo arms which attach to the forward face ofthe plate 25. VAs shown in Fig. 5', twoiof the sets vof supporting yrods 27-29 support Y the ends of thesectionA with, which they are associated, while theV other two sets occupy positions in spaced relation adjacent thecenterof the section. The spiders 36' associated with the centralsetslof armsy maybe and preferably are yformed iiitegijallyasillus.-k

trated. Y f Y j Thesey sets. yofar1ns27v and29 also constitute at their juncture bearings fora shaft 87 which in the presentinstance is composed of threeA sections in alignment, these sections'corre-Y spending in length lwith the sections of the scoop plate 25.' Each of the shaftk sections 37 is provided with ahelical vane which with the'shaftconstitutes a ribbonk conveyer by means of which therslu'dge taken up on the skimming plate 25 as previously described is shifted transversely and concentrated-at the center position of'each of the sections. For

this purpose, the vanes 38 as sociatedwith` each of the shaft sections are intwo parts,

right and left-hand, which extendsubstan-V v tially' from vthe outer ends of the respective" shaft sections to points adjacent the center of the section, as clearly illustrated. It willy be apparent that by turning'the screw 32,

the nutV 81 may be advanced or retracted in such manner as tofelevat'e'or lower the shaft Asections 37 and the vassociated skimmer se`ctions 25, and in Fig. 9, we have illustrated y in brokenlines these parts .iny an elevated position- 'l The central paifrofspiders 36 of eachvoff..

the scoop; vsections iseXtended upwardly as indi'catedfat 4.1 in Figs.V 5 and 9 to afford supports or pedestals forl a .pair ofupright channels 42', which channels-constitute a sup! portingv frame for a vertical Vconveyer or ele! vator which operates ashereinafter setrforth in conjunction with Vthe skimmer V25 r'and the ribbon conveyer 37;88 to remove and to ele- -Y vate'the sludge collecting at the center por! tion ofthe scoop section, as previouslyrdef scribed- As illustrat,edfin Fig. 9, the frame channels4f2 are supported at .the'bottom'upon V1 the bracket 4:1 and atitsmid section by arms A orv linksf pivotally connected to said channels; at LaV vand vat theiry other ends45 to the Latasframe ofthe traveling bridge; These "links 43 while not supporting theactual weight of the frame channels 42 maintain the channels in anormal upright position. A Intermediate the arms 41 of the central Vset of spiders 36 of the; respective'sections, the associated section of the shaft 37 carries a pair of sprockets 46 upon which operate a pair of chains 47, 47'which jointly carry a set of buckets 48 and which with the buckets constitute the elevator conveyer by means of which the sludge 'is elevated. As illustrated in Fig. 9, the buckets 48 are adapted `to sweep inwardly and upwardly over the center Vportions of the skimmer sections to pick up the sludge collected at these points. At the top of the frame 42, the chains 47, 47 opcrate around sprockets 49, these sprockets being supported on a shaft 50 ournaled in bearings 51 adjustably supported f in upright guides 52 at the tops of said frame channels 42. As shown in Fig. 9, these bearings 51 are supported by screws 53 rotatably mounted between the guides 52, 52 and affording means for vertically adjustingthe bearings and the sprockets 49. Also carried by the shaft 50 is a, sprocket 54 which through a sprocket cha-in 55 is connected with a sprocket 56 which through suitable transmission gearing is connected with an electric motor y57 mounted on the bridge and constituting the driving means for the conveyer 47 48. The chain 55 also passes around a vsprocket 58 journaled at 59 on the frame 42, and an idler sprocket 61 engages the chain intermediate the sprocket 58 and the sprocket 54, which idler is carried on the end of a bar 62 pivotally secured to the frame. This idler 61, by reason of the pivotal mounting of the arm62, functions as an automatic compensator taking up the slack in the drive chain 55 and compensating for thechanges in the relative positions of the sprockets 54 and 58 andthe drive sprocket 56 when the conveyer 47-48 is elevated with the frame 42,'which occurs when the skimmer 25 and sha-ft 37 are elevated, as previously described. In Fig. 9, we have illustrated in broken lines the po-V sition of the elevator frame and partsin the elevated positions. It will be apparent how the sprocket compensates for the relative movements of the associated parts while at the same timemaintaining a vproper tension in the chain 55. Y Y

As previously set forth', one of these elevator conveyers is located at the central point of each ofthe sections of the skimmer 25, and the assembled structure isv welll illustrated in Fig. 1. Y f

' At the top of each of the elevator conveyers V47m48, the buckets empty into a chute 63, and

these chutes conduct the sludge onto a belt conveyer 64 which extends longitudinally of the traveling bridge above the superstructure.

As shown in Figs. land 3, the belt 64 operates at Oil@ en@ mnd pulley 65 orfana-s a.

hanging:.superstructure part 68. @Suitable rollers 69 and71 are provided on the super-4 overhanging portion 6 6 ofthe superstructure of the 'traveling bridge,'an d at the other end Y about a pulley 67 alsojournaled in an overstructure to normally support the upper and lowerjruns respectively `Aof thefbelt 64,'and` adjacent and ateach end guide pulleys 72 are provided te guide the lower run of the conveyer inthe desired path -to and from the pulleys 65 and 67 .t The sludge material deposited upon this belt throughfthe chutes 63, as previously-described, iscarried to the end and delivered 'into alchute 3 which guides it to a car 6 'located on the tracks 5, as

previously set forth. By reference to `Fig. 3, y

it 'will be'noted thatfthe chute 7 3 is hingedy to permit itto be swung downwardly from the inoperativeposition, as indicated in brokenllines. A

By vthe mechanism aforedescribed, it will be apparent'thatthe bridge structure may be 'Y advanced across: the sand beds, and that :by means of the skimmers 25the associated ribbon and elevator conveyers'and"thetrans verse bflt `conveyer 64,the'sludge may be taken up from the beds'and deposited directly into a railroadcar orother vehicle forremoval to a proper place'ofdeposit. The

mechanism nalsoprovidues for elevationand f verticaladjustment kof theskimmer as"re quiredand to permit the tra-vel of the bridge toanothen i With a device of'this evitable that the sand bed will be disturbed character, it is ini by the removal of the sludge 'asf above delV ,1

scribed. Provision accordingly' is made in i .the present instance to recondition the sand beds following-removal of .the sludge by de#V `positing new sand wherenecessarypandto Vsmooth and level the surface of the beds:

For this purpose, we provide infthe over-` hanging end -part 68 of thesuperStruCtUr'e' of the traveling bridge an elevator'conveyer' whic-his adapted to take up sand 'from'a rail'` i road car or any suitable conveying vehicle,

Vto elevate the sand, land to deposit'it upon the belt conveyer'64 for distribution upon the beds, as hereinafter set forth. 1

This elevator conveyer is Vshownin Figs.'

justable inthe guide 77 by'pinions 78 on aV shaft 79 journaled onthe frame, 'which pinions engage racks ,81, 81 on theforwardface las 'of the frame 76. IAs .illustrated in vli`igs. l 10i and 11, the shaft 79- carries asprocket 82 which is connected through V2.1-iCl1a-in V83 with a sprocketv 84V operatively connectedthrough suitable reduction gearing .85fwithr`a'n ,elec- 1y tric-motoriv86 mounted at the top of the bridge extension 68. VIt `will `be 'apparent that in thisV manner Vthezentire frame 76 may/bebodily elevated, or lowered at will into the opera-fV tivev position. The frame 7:6 carries `at its upper-,endrbearings 87.l for fa shaft 8 8, which shaft carries a pair ofV sprockets 89 about lll which operate vthe two jconveyer chains 91,r

91 which carrybuckets 92.-3These chains atv the bottom of the framef operate on sprockets 93 carried'upon V:asha'ft 94 snitablyjournaled in the lower end ofthe'frame 76, this shafty94l'being extended at each side-of the conveyer .andV having on 'the A said extensions blades 95 whichrwhenfthe shaftV is rotated .function'to (feed the materialwith which they-contact inwardly towards the Ybuckets 92, which latter function to take up thematerial Vand todepositgit at the top of the con- .veyer intoa'chut'ef96, see'Fig. 1, which directs the said material onto the Vend ofthe. .belt conveyer 64. `The ychains'91 and buckets "92 are -actuatedthrough .the medium of a sprocket 97 onone end of .the yupper conveyer a .shaft 88, this sprocket f 97 being yconnected through a chain`98f with a sprocket 99,.which latter sprocket is' connected through suitable reduction. gearing 101,r see Fig, y2, with ther motor 86.v `This chain 98, as shownin F ig.

1.0;` passes around an idler sprocket 102 which slides vertically in upright guidesV 108 on sprocket102 Vcompensates for the diiferent distances betwe'enthe sprocket 88 Vand Vthe sprocket'97, thesprocket`102 in this adjustment V*moving upwardly .in its guides .to the y position indicatedin broken lines. Relative.- ly .fixedforguide'v sprockets 104 are also pro-` videdtoguide; the chain in the various posi- V tions oftheassociated main sprockets. VThis arrangement providesffor a continuous oper- 'ative connection between .'theelevator con- .veyerandfthe motor 86regardless of' the adl I jnsted position of said oonveyer. y Y *Y l; Asfindicat d in'Fig. 1, the. lower- Aend ofthe conveyer' isadapted tovbe lowered into a car containing sand yon one ofthetracks 5 at that end ofthe bridge structure; yInorder to move w thefgcars relativelyV to the yconveyer to insure thatl allpartsof'the interiorofthe car shall come :into operative relation with the conveyer, we provideV upon the framef'?, asbest shown in Fig, 10,. ay motor`drivengypsey v105, thek Vgypsey head beingv Y connected" through suitable'reduction gearing-.106 to an electricV motor 107 as illustrated; yA rope or cable108 Y passed yaround the gypsey head is'y connected atitso-pposite ends to-'the' opposite-ends ofthe canor series' carswhich carrythe. sand yand in` whichtheaforesaid elevator'k conveyer oplerates. By 4operating the `motor 107,*the cars. f

atea:V predetermined' ratej so that? practically .the entire contents ofthe carmay be removed vwithout.hand work. This device for adording relative movement of the car and the. conveyer operates entirely` independently of the movement ofthebridge as a whole so'thatV may be advancedY with .respectto the elevator jV the feeding ofsand :from the car tothe con-j veyer belt 64 may be a Vcontinuous onesvnchronized withthe movement of the bridge Vstructure over the sand beds. Y

In order to insure a desired distributiony of sand over-...thevbed,jwefprovide in operative Y association with the belt. convey'er .64 Va comy binedplow and-'chute which' is adapted'to move longitudinallyjof the belt'V during` the normal voperation of the latter Vand ,to`Y discharge the ysand fron-1` the conveyer throughV the chute onto. the sand bed.v The details of this plow device are illustrated inFigs. 12to 1,inclusive. As therein illustrated, this device comprisesl a carriage, 111 the wheels 112 'of'which travelon rails'll .which extend* longitudinally of the bridge andon opposite sides of theconyever 64. .This Acarriage Vis 'actuated on the rails bymeans of an electric motor 114. mounted on theoarriage which is. connected through a chain115 with a sprock- Y et 116 on a transverse vshaft 117 joiirnaled on the carriage, and this .shaft carries a pinion 118 which meshes with a gear 119`upon `a secondl transverse shaft 121, which shaft carries at each end a sprocketV 122, each vvof which is connected throughY a chain-123 with a sprocky et `124 vconnected respectively with two of the wheels Vof the carriage, as shown Figs. 13

and14..` Electricalpower is carried `to the motor y114 thr-oughelectric rails 125 secured tothe superstructure of the bridgebelow and paralleling the rails: 113 and through shoes 126 on adepending arm127von Ythecarriage 111.y Inthe .present instance, two pairs of g rails areV provided affording a selective operati-on of the motor 114 in either direction, a suitable switch controlling inthismanner the movement ofthe carriage 111 inboth direc- VtionslfV 'n Y' Y As clearlyVY illustratedv in Figs. -14 and 15', the carriage 111v supported on itswheels 112is adapted to bridgepor straddle the upper run of the conveyerV 64, and carries at `-a point.

above the 'normal levelof theupper run ofthe conveyer a deflect'or. elementV 128 hinged fat 129 to the ycarriage and adapted tobe -adjustedfrom laopositionto one side of and parallelmg the upper run of the fconveyer 64,

as indicated in broken lines atthe point'll, Y

EFig. 13, tothe diagonal position, as. shown". 1n full lines that iigure, extending com-fr Apletely across the belt.V Thisde'flector under conditions hereinafter' set forth isv adapted s to engage and sweep the upper surface'of the belt convey'er and jto divert the sand or other mate'ri thereon linto.' a chute 132 which; conducts the material downwardly and discharges it onto the sand bed in advance of the bridge structure. At the upper end of the,

main chute 132 is `an adjustable chute 133 '5 hinged to the carriage at 134 and adapted to inbreken lines in Fig. 15, to an elevated position, as shown in full lines in the same figure. In the first` or inoperative position, this plate permits the upper'run of the conveyer belt 64 to rest upon the rollers 69, but

when elevated, it carries the said belt up` wardly into contact with the lower edge of the deflector 128, as illustrated in Fig. 15. The plate is supported in the present instance by means of pins insertible through apertures 136 in the plate structure and in the carriage and supported similarly in the lower or inoperative position. Vhen elevated, the belt in that part embraced by the carriage 111 is elevated from the supporting roller 69 and moves flatly across the horizontal plate and as previously statedin contact with the delector 128. As a result of this Contact, the sand or other material on the belt is deflected into the chute 132 as `previously set forth and is deposited on the sand bed. The movement of the carria e111 is controlled by an operator as desire and may be moved in any direction and at the desired speed to give the desired distribution of sand upon the sand bed. It will be noted that the carriage 111 carries at each end a pair of rollers 137 which occupy positions directly in line with the opposite side edges ofthe belt when the latter is elevated on the table 135. These rollers revent misalignment of the upper run of t e conveyer belt.

When not in use, the carriage 111 is shifted to the end of the bridge structure, as shown in Fig. 1. The plate 135 islowered to the inoperative position and thedeflector 128 shifted to its inoperative position parallelingV one side of the belt, in this position the carriage and its various parts interfering 1n no way with the normal operation of the belt in delivering the sludge to the cars or other receptacles at the side of the sand beds.

In conjunction with the aforedescribed apparatus, we employ means on the bridge structure for evenly distributing the new sand on the sand beds and for leveling the sand thereon. This spreading and leveling device comprises in'one form a plurality of Scrapers 138, these scrapers inthe present Sinstance corresponding in length tothe lengths of the sections of theaforedescribed ribbon conveyer, these three sections of "the Scrapers covering the entire width of the sand bed over which the bridgefstructure opf erates. These are elevated and lowered through the medium orfja series of cables 139 which operatearound'sheaves 141 on a shaft 142, this shaft being journaled as shown in Fig. 9 upon the framework of the bridge Structure. TheI shaft 142 may be, operated to'lower the scraper into the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 9, in which position it is operative to bring the upper surface Vof thesand bed int-oa substantially Heat and Y smooth condition.:,;We `also provideat the rear of each of the'skimmer lsections 25 ,a

scraper element 'which assumes an operative V position, as shownin Fig. 9, to follow after the skimmer and to level oif the sand after the teeth 26 have kdisturbed it in the sludgecollecting operation..I Itwillbe understood that thisscraper` 143, which may be raised and lowered by hand, operates to offset anydisturbing eEects .of the skimmer 25, but

when the scaper 138 is in operation, the skim-V mer25 and the associated parts are elevated, i

the' sand bed being' free fromy sludge.

It is desirable that the speed of movement of the bridge structure overthe bed may be variablel as desired in accordance with the `nature jof the operations. In general, the

bridgemay be advanced at a more rapid rate while collecting and removing the sludge v than whendepositing and spreading the sand. f

The apparatus las described above is capable of considerable modification without departure from thev invention. Sucha modification for example is shown in Fig. 16,-'in whichv a movable bridge structure substantially the same as that described above is shown. In this instance, however, the sludge skimmer .1441and elevator 145 are mounted upon` a `carriage 146 which is adaptedto travel on rails longitudinally of the bridge structure. In this instance, the sludge is collected not by movingjthe bridge structure as a .whole but by advancing the carriage 146 with the skimmer and elevator structure from one Vside of the sand bed tothe other.` The scoop 144 may besufficientin width to'c'over the entire sand bed in one movement of the carriage 146, or it may be relatively narrow, the bridge structure being advanced bodily yafter each full movement o f the sludge-collecting elements from oneside of the Vsand .j

bed to the other. In this instance, as before, the sludge is deposited by the collector elevator upon a conveyer `belt 147 which takes the sludge to the end of the bridge structure and deposits it in a car orother vehicle provided for the purpose. In this instance also,

it will be noted that the sludge collector and elevator-.apparatus is pivotally mounted at 148 and may be adjusted upwardly around thisfpivot to an inoperativev position, shown in broken lines, bymea'n's of afrack bar 149 and a pinion 15()` on'th'ecarriage :which operates in conjunction With this bar and as illustrated torgive the desired adjustable move# ment `to the associated parts.

A' further modification 'is illustrated in `Fig`s. 17,18 and19'. Inthis instance, the

elevator conveyer, the principal Vfunction of Which is to take up sandfrom a railroad oar orother vehicle or'source, is mounted upon a mobile structure independent of the other Y `portion of the apparatus. In the present instance, this conveyer',-designated in the dravvingsby the reference numeral 155, is'mount-v ed upon Va frame structure 156 Whichstra'd.-

j 1 dles Vthe spaces 3 intermediate thebed. sections and is supported on Wheels which4 travel on therails 4, which also supportthe main structure. The elevator conveyer v155finay be in all respects similar to thercorresponding elevator previously described. The pres- Y ent elevator 155, howevenis adapted tofdeliver the material through'a chutev 157 tothe inner end of avswiveling belt 'conveyer' 158 V'Which transfers the vsand orother 'material `through the medium of an Vend chute 159 to 'the main conveyer 64 of the sludge-cleaning apparatus. The elevator155 andthe convey-y er 158 may be operated from Yan electric motor 161 mounted ongthe structure' 156, power being provided tothisV motor-by means for reXample,-of flexibleA cableseX-tending from the generator on the sludge ,bed cleaner.

Several advantages apply to this construc-V `tion over that previously shown, in which the-elevator conveyer is mounted upon ythe main `frame of the sludge bed cleaner, the principal one residing in theV fact thatsitV 'eliminatesithe necessity for right and Vlett hand machines and makes possible the operation of a singlecleaner on'iall beds. As irllustratjedrinV Fig. 18, the'svvivel conveyer 158 Vis vadjustable to either side ofthe frame.

" c isdesirable to afford tracks upon which the @sludge-removing apparatus kmay travel Aover rvthe sand bed, it will be apparent that other J1. y.Apparatus for use in conjunction with means of locomotion such astractor or'caterpillar treads maybe used if desired rWithout ydeparture from the invention.

We claim: f

sludge-drying beds and kthe like comprising a mobile structure adapted to travel at least in part over the said bed, means on said structurel for skimming. sludge from kthe `surface of'said bed, means includinga transverse con; veyer for'delivering said sludge to a prede-.

. terminedpoint of discharge on saidstructure;V

an elevator conveyer at .one end'of said structure andadapted to dischargefontoY said EIO transverse conveyer, Vand means operatively associated with said transverse conveyerand .selectively adaptedto deflect material from the conveyeronto the said ,drying bed. Y

2. Appa'rat-us for use yin conJunction with sludge-.drying beds and the like comprising amobile structureadapted to travel atleast in part over the `said bed, means :for skiin-y ming sludge rom the surface otsaidfbed',

a transverse conveyer carriedl by vsaidrstructure, vmeans for conducting'the said sludge from the skimming means to the transverse conveyer whereby the sludge is conducted e 'on the said conveyerto a predetermined point of discharge, an elevator conveyer'operative at one side of said bed and adapted'tofdeliver materiall to said transverse` conveyer, and means operatively associated With said conveyer for selectively deflecting material from the -conveyer to drying bed.

sludge-dryingk beds and the likecomprising amobile 'structure adapted "totravel at least in partjover the said bed, a transversecon- -veyer' carried 'by' said structure, an. elevator conveyer'operativeon'said structure at one sideof-the filtering bedand adapted to' deposit materi'alvon said transverse conveyer,y

`dni

and `aV traveling defle'ctor operatively associated with said transverse conveyer and Ladapted to deiect-.material from the conveyer' toA be deposited upon the drying bed. Y f 4. Apparatus for use in conjunction ivi-th sludge-drying beds and the like comprising a mobile structure'adap'ted to travel at least 'in Vpart over the said bed, ar transverse conbe'deposited on the said."

l Apparatus for use in conjunction With i veyer carried by Vsaid structuref,"an elevator n conveyer operative on said structure at one side ofthe drying bed` and adaptedto de`-V posit` material on said transverse conveyer',

Ya -traveling deflector operatively associated vwith said transverse conveyer and adapted Vto deflectvma'terialv from the conveyerfto be deposited upon the tltering'bed, and'v means ycarried by said structure and' adapted to level the surface of said bed, and means for ad- Ajusting said scraper.

, 5. Apparatus for usey in conjunction Withy sludge-drying sand beds an-d, the like com- `prising a mobile structure adapted to travel at least in part over the said bed,.meaiis car- 'ried by said structure for separating; theV sludge from the surfacepsand, means on said structure for conducting said sludge' to a prel determined point Yof,di`scharge',and means operative on the bed yfollowing said take-upl means to level the sludgeefree surface. f

6. Apparatus for use in conjunction with sludge-drying beds and the likexcomprising lllk movement of said dellector relative to tlaeY belt to control the disposition of the material Y upon the drying bed.

`7. Apparatus for use in conjunction With sludge-drying beds and the like comprising a mobile structure adapted to travel at least in part over the said bed, a transverse belt conveyer carried by said structure, an eleva- 1 tor conveyer operative on said structure at one side of the drying bed and adapted to deposit material on the said transverse conveyer, a carriage movable on the structure longitudinally of the said conveyer and adapted to embrace the upper'run of tbe latter, means on said carriage for elevating and supporting that part of the conveyer belt embraced by the carriage, and a ldeflector element on said carriage adapted to operate on the elevated part of said belt conveyer to dis- 4 charge a material from the belt onto the surface of the drying bed.

8. Apparatus for use in conjunction with sludge-drying beds and the like comprising a mobile structure adapted to travel at least in part over the said bed, a transverse belt conveyer carried by said structure, an elevator conveyer operative on said structure at one side of the drying bed andV adapted to deposit material on the said transverse conveyer, a carriage movable on the structure longitudinally of the said conveyer and adapted to embrace the upper run of the latter, means on said carriage for elevating and supporting that part of the conveyer belt embraced by the carriage, and a deflector element on said carriage adapted to operate on the elevated l part of said belt conveyer to discharge material romthe belt onto the surface of the drying bed, said belt elevating and supporting means and said delector being adjustable y' Y to inoperative positions relative to the convever.

u MARCUS B. TARK.

ROLAND L. CLEVELAND. 

